Clonmany Shamrocks get the better of Cockhill Celtic for second week running

For the second week running, Clonmany Shamrocks inflicted a cup final defeat on Cockhill Celtic in glorious conditions at Maginn Park.

In an excellent opening half in this Donegal Signs Challenge Cup decider,  Clonmany had the first attempt with a Jamie Coyle free kick which was gathered, diving to his right, by Harry Doherty. 

But Cockhill took the lead on 14 minutes after a loose ball on the left, thirty yards out, saw Lee McColgan hammer an unstoppable effort to the bottom right-hand corner of the net for a stunning goal.

Minutes later, Luke Rudden laid the ball to the edge of the area where Corey McBride blazed over the bar. 

Clonmany responded and Coyle’s attempted lob was gathered by Doherty. Then a great move saw Shane McCaul feed Terence Doherty on the right, and his superb cross just eluded Aaron Porter at the back post.

The Shamrocks had a better chance in the 29th minute after Terence Doherty capitalised on a defensive slip before racing into the area, but from a tight angle, he fired into the side netting. Cockhill replied and ended the half well. 

A great cross from McBride found Rudden at the back post, but he headed wide when well placed. The final chance of the half saw good approach play end with Rudden feeding McColgan on the overlap inside the area, but Kieran Friel turned his effort around the post.

In contrast, the opening period of the second half saw both defences on top and much of the play in the midfield area. 

Midway through the half, Adam Duffy’s scuffed effort from the edge of the area was gathered by Friel, before great work from Rudden took him inside the area on the left, but his effort from a tight angle was blocked by Friel at the expense of a corner.

A brilliant crossfield ball then by James Bradley found Rudden, who cut inside but shot over from the edge of the area. 

Clonmany were struggling to get forward, but just into injury time, the Cockhill defence failed to deal with a ball into the area, and substitute Pearse McCarron’s shot on the turn found the same right-hand corner as McColgan’s opener to send the game into extra time.

Cockhill had the first chance of extra time after substitute Conor Graham’s cross was headed over the bar by McColgan, who was under pressure from defenders. 

Midway through the first period, Clonmany took the lead after Terence Doherty played a great ball into the right-hand channel for substitute Alex McFadden, who advanced into the area before pulling the ball across to Shane McCaul to slot home from close range.

Cockhill will wonder how they didn’t get back on terms before the break after McColgan’s free was spilled by Friel to the inrushing Peter Doherty, whose follow-up was somehow deflected wide of the post by keeper Friel from point-blank range.

Cockhill had most of the possession in the second period, but the only chance they had was a free kick by McColgan which sailed over.

Man of the Match: Gareth Bradley (Clonmany Shamrocks). For Cockhill, Lee McLaughlin, James Bradley, and Garbhan Friel were always prominent, while for the winners, Paddy Doherty, Shane McCaul, and Terence Doherty were to the fore. But on the day, the award goes to on-field captain Bradley, who was a tower of strength and marshalled his defence superbly.